Cigarette dispenser



Sept. 4, 1951 B. L. PETTY CIGARETTE DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 1'7, 1949 INVENTOR.

Bernard L. Petty C ATTORNEYS Sept. 4, 1951 B. PETTY CIGARETTE DISPENSER Filed Jan. 17, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN'TOR. Bernard L. Pefly l V, (5%? ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 4, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CIGARETTE DISPENSER Bernard L. Petty, Fairlington, Va.

Application January 17,1949, Serial No. 71,291

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to dispensers for cigarettes of a character whereby cigarettes may be dispensed from a hopper, one at a time, the dispenser being preferably in the nature of a stand or table cabinet in contradistinction to pocket cases.

The principal object of the invention is to provide dispensers which are simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and not likely to get out of order even though operated a great number of times and over a long period of time.

Another object is to provide dispenser mechanism which may be compactly and attractively housed to harmonize with other smokers equipment, such as humidors, so as to serve a companion piece for such equipment.

A further object is to provide in such a dispenser, means whereby the cigarette is shot, so to speak, from the housing without damagaing the cigarette, the unit affording amusement to those operating and observing its operation.

Other objects and advantages will appear in forming a part of this specification, and in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser, the index finger of a hand shown, being on a plunger of operating mechanism depressed to the end of operating stroke, and a cigarette shown in the air, propelled free of the dispenser casing.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of mechanism mounted on a suitable base, with the casing and operating plunger shown in Fig. 1, removed.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in elevationand partly in central vertical section through the dispenser, showing the relative position of parts at the start of an operating stroke.

Figs. 4 and 5 are horizontal and vertical sectional views on the line 4-4 and 55 of Fig. 3, respectively.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the relative position of parts at an intermediate position of the o erating stroke.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the relative position of parts at the end of the operating stroke.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an actuating unit forming a part of the dispensing mechanism.

In generalthe cigarette dispenser comprises a cabinet structure of artistic design including a base It! and in the design shown an upright cylindrical casing ll having an opening 12 therein through which a cigarette l3 may be projected from a vertically movable hopper [4 within the casing. The casing is shown with a top cover l5 having a central aperture 16 therethrough through which a plunger ll connected with the hopper 14 for operating the same in cigarette dispensing operations.

While the casing II is illustrated of cylindrical conformation with its opening ii in a position to be in line with an aperture [8 in hopper l4, when in its lower dispensing position it may be any other shape and if desired the opening may be increased in size even to the extent of substantially the entire front end Wall IQ of the hopper I4 so that said end wall I!) may take the place of a portion, at least, of the wall of easing H a large opening l2 in casing H provides for the complete dispensing of a cigarette l3 from the hopper and easing at all times without any possi bility of the cigarette being caught in the two openings l2 and I8 even if the hopper is returned suddenly to its upper position in the casing.

As shown hopper I4 is of rectangular transverse construction and easing I I provided with vertical guideways 20 into which the corners 2| of the hopper are adapted to slide. The upper end of hopper M has a yoke 22 across its top connected with operating plunger ll, thejends of which yoke 22 are positioned in sockets 22- iormed in the upper side walls of the hopper so that it is removable when itis desired to fill the hopper with cigarettes. The lower end hopper 14 has inwardly diverging side walls 23whlch with the end walls of the hopper terminateina rectangular depending collar 24 which sliding'ly engages the outer surface selector pedestal 25the base 26 of which is secured to base ill of the cabinet structure by means of screws 21 or the like. H

A bar 28 extends laterally of the mid portion of collar 24 of the hopper and cooperative vertical s ots 29 in the spaced apart side walls of the selector pedestal with compression springs 30 under the ends of the bar which are secured in place to base Ill by screws 3|. These springs 30 yieldably hold the hopper I 4 in its elevated position, this elevated position being determined by the upper ends of slots 29 and the selector pedestal has a longitudinal rounded trou h 32, which when the hopper is in its elevated position provides a receptacle at the bottom thereof of a size to engage or select one cigarette from the hopper which will roll therein, asshownin Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 7 the lower limit of movement of bar 28 is determined, by the lower ends of slots 29, being substantially when theopening l8 of the hopper end I9 is in alignment with opening 12 of easing ll so that the cigarette l3 maybe shot or dispensed therefrom. i t

Hopper I4 is somewhat longer than the cigarette l3 and has a partition 33 adjacent its back end wall 34 providing a forward cigarette receiving receptacle or hopper 35 and rear small compartment 36 to accommodate a cigarette dispensand 40 respectively through which the dispensing spring 31 may operate.

cigarette adis' sing spring 3'! c'omprisesa straight spring wire mounted in a cylindricalhub 4| as best shown in the perspective view Fig. 8. Also mounted in hub 41 is a slotted lever 42 which as shown is preferably formed of a wire or rod loop which is sufliciently rigid to actuate the hub to operate spring 31 on a cigarette ejecting operation. As shown in several of. the view hub M is mounted on a pivot 43 fixed between the spaced apart side walls of the selectorpedestal 25 with the slot of lever'f42 in engagement with eer-- 'i e is ens n spring sn gup lot -49; the trough 3210f v the I QW in Figsu5, 6 and '7, the rear end e ib ire ssb a f arding channel -e itension" 44 and a reaifexten 'th a rorwardly extending stop'y it on'its d. The-side portions of extension 4!! all Y v pe tlong'inlFl'gr 5 the dispenser shown g t 1 1 5 the t ebs fth 'ef l' ensi 2 operation; a single cigarette 'wnin the trough '32 of' thelselector 1 110 4 smg on i ni $5! ing 31' is bowed in en a ement. with rear l' 4 59f the'peiies'tal'undei' slightfsti'ess', "1 w h hopper 'l4,fla 'jd QS d, q 'sui nsii rlw r' v n o en ag ent W gabutment eras shown in rigoanu 19 further d pressionfoi the plunger th stress on spring" 3Ti'siricr'a's'eduntil the" hopper reaches t pos tion shown in Bi 7 when the sprin 31 is ii g by turning of hub M so thatit om underiswinging abutment 41 stres is ei ci ihelci a're goperatlonjwithfsuffic ientforoe tually'shoot it therefrom as indicated uch 'tof the amusement of. thejjoperg ion; releasing the plunger ll g t Pp i s o n'inlFis, tmen 41' swings rearw'ardly'upwardi ng wit o t anometre meet: nd a q e ci re t n ch m er 35 o he hopperfrolls into; plac ej'in trough 32 ofthe a -the xt isprie describeda highly satisfactory pre-j ferred embodiment of a cigarette dispenser' in ac "aspring projecting upwardly in the remote end of saidslotlin thetrough of the pedestal, means for stressing said'spring to move forwardly in said slots'when the hopper is depressed, and means for releasing the spring in "its stressed condition as the gopening in the hopper comes into alignment with; the trough in the pedestal so that the ciga rette in the trough will 'be-ejected-through the opening in the end of thehopperby the" sudden release of the spring. 4 g

2. In a cigarette dispenser including a verticallyrmovable hopper for receiving a supply of cigarettes and having an opening in an upper portion of an end thereof through which a cigarette mayr dispensed, a selector pedestal having a longitudinal trough in its upper end providing the bottom of the hopper whenthe hopper is in an elevated position and into which trougha cigaretteowill roll, said pedestal having spaced apart walls and vertical slots therein, abar connected with the bottom of the hopper extending laterally through the slots in the pedestal whereby the vertical movement of the hopper over the ped-, estal is guided and limited, springs supporting the outer ends ofsaid bar beyond the sides of the hopper;to yieldingly hold the hopper in its upper positionpand cigarette ejector means engaging said heir between said Walls of the pedestal and operated thereby to dispense acigarette when the V hopperjis-depressedto a position, aligning the ci arettes" and having an opening in, an upper portionoi an endthereof through which a cigarette may be dispensed, a selector pedestal having a longitudinal trough in its upper end providing thev bottom of the hopper when the hopper is in 1 an elevated position and into'whichtrough a cigarette ,Will' roll, said pedestal having vertical slots in its :side', a bar connected with the bottom of the hopperextending laterally through the slots in the pedestal whereby the vertical movement of the h'opper over. the pedestal is'gu'ided and limit ed, springs" supporting theo'uter'ends of said bar beyond the sides of the hopper to yieldingly hold the hopper in its upper position; 'and'cigarette ejectonmeans connected with said bar within the pedestaland operated thereby to dispense a cigarette when the hopper is depressed to a position aligning the opening'in its end with the trough in the top of the pedestal including a spring tensioned by. the downward movement of the bar, and a swinging abutment holding the spring under stress until the opening in the trough is aligned with the trough in the top of the pedestal.

1 BERNARD L. PETTY;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file' 'o f patent:

" UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name o Date.

599,398 Maxfield Feb. 22, 1898 1,125,933; Bartholomew "9 Jan. 26,1915 

